One World Group

St. Margaret's One World Group is a registered charity No. SC037565

St. Margaret's One World Group Objectives
To assist worthwhile development projects and programmes in the poorest countries of the world and to provide emergency aid through charities and others working in areas that have suffered natural disasters and famine. Projects are supported on the basis of need and the potential to make a real difference to human, social and economic development; we look for quality of management, feedback, environmental and financial sustainability and value for money. Generally we support Christian Charities and those that we consider subscribe to the Christian ethos of “love your neighbour”.

Fundraising
The Group's principal fundraising efforts are through coffee mornings held each Saturday in the Crypt between 10:30am and 11:30am, and at Family Breakfasts held periodically (after Sunday 9am Mass). Income is augmented considerably where the donations are gift aided. Collection boxes for Mary’s Meals have also been distributed amongst supporters and these provide a steady source of income. These Collection boxes are available from the OWG table in the Crypt or from any member of the One World Group.

Mary's Meals
The One World Group is a prime supporter of Mary’s Meals. This charity aims to provide chronically hungry children with one meal every school day, encouraging education that can lift them out of poverty in later life. The One World Group's fundraising is used to provide ongoing financial support to 3 school feeding stations, 2 in Malawi (at Chitikale Nursery, near Blantyre, and Chinyaza School, Zomba), and 1 in Liberia at Geveh Community School, in Bomi County. The latest reports from Mary's Meals on these schools (2017) are available to download here - a) Chinyaza; b) Geveh

Children of Geveh Community School, Bomi County, Liberia

A school feeding station

Emergency Funding
When disasters strike, St. Margaret’s One World Group (OWG) seeks to be in a position to respond with funds to assist in recovery and relief efforts. In 2017, the OWG has so far sent £1,200 to Mary's Meals East Africa Appeal (for emergency aid in that region where there has been a major famine); £250 to SCIAF (for their East Africa Appeal); and £250 to the Disasters Emergency Committee (for their Yemen Crisis Appeal). In 2016, the OWG sent £500 to SCIAF for their 'Food for Africa' crisis appeal and £250 for general emergency funding, and £1,200 to Mary's Meals for famine relief in Malawi and £2,500 for our sponsored school feeding stations. In 2015, the OWG sent £5,800 to SCIAF for their Syria Refugee Appeal; £2,500 to Mary's Meals for their "Feed our Future" and Malawi Flood Appeals; and £1,000 to Tearfund for their Vanuatu Cyclone Appeal.

Other Projects

Haiti Help - A local charity who work with children in an orphanage on La Gonave, Haiti. Three nurses, a dentist and an optician from Fife visit La Gonave annually on an assessment and work trip. In 2016 the OWG donated £250 to Haiti Help which was used to buy a fridge / freezer and a table and benches for a local school. A Family Breakfast was also held (in November) on behalf of Haiti Help. This raised £277 on the day which was matched by OWG from funds. This grant of £554 will go to help the charity's ongoing work and relief efforts after Hurricane Matthew. In 2014 the OWG donated £741 to Haiti Help, and St. Margaret's Men's Group also donated £259, a total of £1,000. These funds were used for solar powered lights and water sanitisation equipment for the village next to the orphanage. In 2013 the OWG donated £500 to Haiti Help which enabled them to provide the orphanage with cooking pots and a printer/scanner.

Practical Action - provides simple solutions to sustainability problems in developing countries using technology. In 2016, the OWG donated £250 for their 'Project Arsenic' (to provide water testing kits to test for arsenic in soil); in 2015 the OWG donated £500 for LPG cooking stoves in Darfur, and in 2014 £240 for a Cattle feeding project in Nepal.

Becoming Involved
St. Margaret’s One World Group is always seeking new members to assist with the fundraising activities (the Saturday morning coffee rota in the crypt, and the occasional Family Breakfast). If you would be willing to give some time to get involved contact David Hambley (OWG Chairperson), or any member of the One World Group.

OUR MISSION

St. Margaret’s is a Christian Community in the Catholic tradition. Having found strength and peace in following Jesus Christ we strive under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and by following the example of St. Margaret of Scotland to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ by:

Worshiping God through Sunday Mass, the celebration of the Sacraments and other services and devotions;

Growing in our commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour through prayer, reflection and education;

Caring for those who are most vulnerable in our society, pastorally, spiritually and materially by praying with and for the sick and elderly at home and in care or hospital, and helping to meet the material needs of those in the local community and abroad by generous sharing of our time and treasure.

All are welcome to join in prayer, worship and caring at St Margaret’s.